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Replacing driver screws with brass screws

There was some discussion about this on Millercarbon's thread about the Moab speakers, and I wanted to pursue the subject further without interfering with his thread.
As I stated there, I have heard about this practice for quite a few years, but never tried it because it seemed like one of those lunatic fringe ideas; and even though I actually really enjoy trying tweaks, and have found many of them effective, I just was not prepared for what this one did for the music coming out of my speakers. 
Specifically, it improved the detail in ambient trails, focus in general, complex harmonics in voices and stringed instruments, and instrumental separation. It is not subtle, and it is immediately noticeable.
So, I am curious to know how many of you out there have tried this, and what your experience has been.
Thanks, John  
128x128roxy54

Showing 12 responses by glupson

glupson
7,842 posts
 
It is possible to make wooden screws. I am not sure if it is worth it, but this is all theoretical discussion so I thought why not bring them in?
glupson
7,842 posts
 

rixthetrick,


By now I figured out that you think I am just attempting to annoy here.

Discussion about brass vs. iron is meaningless without considering many other variables that are sticking out asking for consideration before one even buys the first brass screw. Without them, whole discussion seems like "my way or no way".


In my example above, the amount of brass delegated to each speaker would double. If brass actually makes a difference, in any semi-reasonable approach that might impact the result. Unless one decides that preliminary result is what one desires it to be.


I will not disassemble my speakers for something like this. Neither I have enough time or interest in proving or disproving slightly dubious claims from people who dismiss any deeper, and potentially more complicated and sophisticated way of approaching technical issues. I will leave disassembly to those more inclined to fine manual work and keep myself actually contributing to their research with ideas they somehow did not think of.


I do not know what wood I would use for screws. In fact, my first question was if different wood would make a difference.


What made me think of wood was very simple. Many, if not most, of the speakers are made of some iteration of wood. In other things, problem is frequently at the spot where two different media meet. Decreasing difference in physical properties of adjoining media might be beneficial, or even detrimental, to desired outcome.


From that, it came to "wouldn’t carefully choosing the screw material in reference to the enclosure material be more beneficial than just a blank statement....brass is better".



You see, it is not that imaginative. It is very simple reasoning.


When it comes to imperial vs. metric thread, that is the next level of designing the research. It might be a good consideration, but we are still in the beginning stages of it.

glupson
7,842 posts
 
In theory, is there a number of screws that would matter?

For example.

A driver is attached wth 4 iron screws and we change them tu brass of some kind. There is a difference in sound. Let’s say that difference on some imaginary scale would be 2.

Next driver is attached with 8 screws that we change from iron to brass just like in the first speaker. Would the difference now be, let’s say, 4?

Would there be a certain treshold number of screws under which after changing from iron to brass the difference in sound would not be perceptible?
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"The only Peter I can think of is Belt."

My first thought was...Pan.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
My question about wooden screws is very real. It is just another material. If brass, and we have no idea what composition we are even talking about, is allegedly making a difference then any material could be making a difference.

Same goes for "brass on the speaker". Different enclosure materials, many physical variables (location, number of screws, size of the screw, etc.). It is a nice start to think "brass", but it becomes a little suspicious when with all the possibilities "brass" is the answer and any development of that question becomes "not serious".

Is it maybe zinc in brass we are really looking for? Maybe copper? Or maybe zelkova?

Also, there is a mention of "tightened to spec" earlier. Do manufacturers publish those specifications?


glupson
7,842 posts
 
I had a few more.

Different, let them be metals, screws on, for example, wooden, aluminum, granite, etc. enclosures. It seems like those interactions might prevent that only one type, brass in this case, is "the one". In short, if different screw metal matters, why wouldn’t different materials the screw is attached to matter even more in this story?

Then, are there screws on electrostatic speakers? If yes, do changes in their material also matter for the sound?

I know that title is "Brass screws", but these questions are not that removed from the discussion. They are only a developmental step above "brass or no brass".

I know what you are thinking. "No bras(s)".
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"...the difference in sound of different metals..."

No love for wood?
glupson
7,842 posts
 
Will we ever find out who, in fact, hired who and what really happened in that saga between Robert and Michael Green? We have been kept in suspense for two years.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"I’m so embarrased."
Do not be. We all need love and attention from time to time.

I am disappointed that nobody took my questions about wooden screws, brass screws on different enclosure materials, etc. seriously. Well, maybe in some thread next year...
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"Everyone's a comedian. If only one of you was actually funny..."

Funny thing is that we are actually serious.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"...with platinum-plated 24k gold.  That'll really float your boat."

I thought it would sink.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
What happens if one replaces all the usual screws, including brass, with wooden (made of wood) screws? Which wood would work the best? Would it depend on what actual material speakers (boxes) are made of, or there would be some universal wooden screw that would work the best all the time?

Is the effect of brass screws same on all types of enclosures? MDF, aluminum, granite, etc.?

Are there screws on electrostats? If yes, do brass screws make a difference and why?
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